Converter.



G. L. GADLE.

GONVERTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18, 1911.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

G. L. GADLE.

CONVERTER.

1 PHHU T HHU APPLICATION FILED 1320.18. 1911.

HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO'LITHO" WASHING ION D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. GADLE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC BAIL-WAY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND. OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CON VERTER.

Application filed December 18, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. CADLE, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Converters; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and tothe reference-numerals marked thereon.

My invention relates to converters, particularly of the type designedfor changing a direct electric current to an alternating electriccurrent such as is employed for railway and lighting systems, and it hasfor its object to provide means for breaking a circuit of heavypotential in such a manner that no arc will be formed of sufficientmagnitude to eflect any noticeable destructive action on the commutatingsegments.

My invention further consists in dividing the current as it passesthrough the commutator so that an arc cannot be formed on any singlecommutator segment to a sufficient extent to destroy an appreciableamount of the metal forming the commutating segment.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the totalamount of current will not be interrupted at a single instant as byinterposing suitable resistance in the circuit.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a converter embodyinga preferred form of my invention, and showing the arrangement of thedirect and alternating current circuits with respect thereto; Fig. 2 isa sectional view on the line zvw of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticview of the commutator, showing the arrangement of circuits, thecommutating segments, and the resistance elements interposed in thecircuit.

My invention is designed primarily for producing alternating currentfrom direct current by an improved method, being applicable for formingeither a single phase or a polyphase circuit, and in the presentembodiment, I have illustrated the invention by an arrangement adaptedto form a single Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 666,425.

phase circuit, A designating the incoming, or direct current circuit,and B the outgoing or alternating current circuit, which is connected asshown, to the brushes 2. The direct current circuit is connected to thebrushes 3, while 4 designates brushes arranged about the commutator andconnected together in pairs, as by the wires 5, the brushes &cooperating with parts of the commutator in a manner that will now bedescribed.

The commutator is preferably in the form of a rotating cylinder,designated by 6, and adapted to be actuated by a suitable motor or otherdesirable means. Commutating rings 7 are provided which cooperate withthe brushes Arranged for cooperation with the brushes 3 and st are thecommutating segments 8 and spaced therefrom at slight distances aresmaller commutating segments 9 which are connected with the segments 8by means of the resistances 10 for a purpose that will presently appear.The commutating segments are separated by insulated sections in a mannerthat is well known in the art, and need not be described. It will benoted that the contacting surfaces of each brush is slightly wider thanthe distance between the sides of the segments which are connected byresistances, and slightly narrower than the distance between theopposite sides of the segments, and this permits the brushes to bridgethe segments 8 and 9 as the commutator rotates, whereupon the resistanceelements are brought into the circuit so that when the segments 9 passaway from contact with the brushes, the total cur rent is notinterrupted at a single instant, thus obviating any action on thecommutator that might be set up by an inductive load.

In order to divide the current in such proportions that it will not forman arc on any one segment large enough to affect the metal to anappreciable extent, I preferably provide a double number of sets ofcommutating segments, as shown, the circuits being ar ranged to permitthe current to pass through said segments in parallel, and to this end,the direct current circuit is divided, forming the leads 11 and 12respectively, the circuits formed thereby being connected with thecommutating rings 7 by means of wires 13 and 14, respectively. It willbe understood that the dividing of the current in the manner justdescribed, while constituting an important feature of my invention, isnot indispensable to the remaining parts, which include the means forbreaking the circuits at a'plurality of points, at a single instant, andinterposing resistance elements in the circuit for the purposes alreadymentioned.

I claim as my invention:

" 1. The combination with direct and alternating current circuits, of arotary commutator connecting the circuits and embodying means fordividing the current, means for breaking the divided circuit at aplurality of points simultaneously including a series of comparativelylarge commutating segments, and'a corresponding number of comparativelysmall commutating segments arranged in spaced relation to the largersegments, and resistance elements connecting the se ments.

2. The combination with direct and alternating circuits, of a commutatorconnecting the circuits, said commutator embodying means for dividingthe current while passlng from one of sald circuits to the other, meansfor breaking the divided circuit at a plurality of pointssimultaneously, and resistance elements adapted to be introduced intothe respective divisions of such divided circuit incidentally to thebreaking of the same.

3. The combination with direct and alternating circuits, of a rotarycommutator connecting the circuits and embodying means two series.

CHARLES L. CADLE. Witnesses:

HENRY W. HALL, H. E. STONEBRAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

